Dangers of Contact Lenses: Amoeba Eye Infection Blinds Woman

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A student in Taiwan who left contact lenses in her eyes for six
months straight developed a rare and serious eye infection that
ultimately took her vision, according to a news report.

A single-celled organism called an amoeba was able to infect the
outer covering of the woman's eye because she did not remove and
clean the lenses at all during this time, according to the
Daily Mail.

While this particular case has not been verified by Live Science,
eye infections from microscopic amoeba s can occur. The
condition is known as Acanthamoeba keratitis, and is
most common among people who wear contact lenses, according to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms from the infection — including eye pain, redness and
blurred vision — can last for weeks or months, and can cause
vision loss or blindness if left untreated, the CDC says.
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Dr. Mark Fromer, an ophthalmologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New
York City, said that leaving
contact lenses in too long increases the risk of eye
infections because the contact lens prevents the cornea — the
transparent outer covering of the eye — from getting enough
oxygen.

"It's a living, breathing organ, the cornea; it needs oxygen,"
Fromer said. Without adequate oxygen, the cells of the cornea can
break down and fall off, essentially removing the eye's barrier
to infection. Because of this risk, Fromer tells his patients to
never keep their contact lenses in overnight.

Although Acanthamoeba keratitis is rare, other more
common eye
infections caused by bacteria also can happen when people
leave their contact lenses in too long, don't change their
contact solution regularly or don't keep their contact-lens case
clean, Fromer said, adding that he sees at least one
contact-related eye infection per week.

The CDC also recommends that people remove their contact lenses
before swimming, showering or other activities where the eyes
come into contact with water.